The Sustainable Lands Roundtable of Kentucky is proud to present its second documentary, Sacred Land, created in 2017. This 17-minute film explores the theological and spiritual relationship of three Kentucky congregations of Sisters with the hundreds of acres each has stewarded since the early 1800s.
Sacred Land is an invitation to landowners everywhere. The video invites exploration of the spiritual dimensions of relationship with the land as part of responsible planning for the future. A study guide and resources for protecting and preserving land in central Kentucky are provided for those who wish to use the video as a springboard to discussions in a variety of groups.
The Sustainable Lands Roundtable is a collaborative effort of the Dominicans of Peace at St. Catharine, the Loretto Community in Nerinx, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and sustainable land experts from Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, and the Kentucky Land Trust Alliance. The group has been meeting quarterly for the past three years with leadership from New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future and financial support from Christy Brown and the Owsley Brown Foundation.
Here is their earlier video from 2015 – Basic Concepts of Land Conservation:
Thank you all for this beautiful film. I found it inspiring. I am a co-member of the Loretto Community and am thrilled that you all have collaborated on the making of this film and are working together to preserve these sacred lands.
Muchas gracias,
Mary Helen Sandoval
How beautiful through the eyes of God’s angels here on Earth. May God bring those who watch this inspirational video to open their hearts up and view the sacred beauty of gifts God has provided all of us to substain for the future.
I have integrated this film into my graduate course on community development at the University of Kentucky. It generated significant discussion about the impact of intentional communities, particularly, the communities of Catholic sisters who are raising the awareness of rural peoples to embrace the principles of environmental, economic and social sustainability.